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Photo: BasketNews.lt/D.Lukšta
Photo BasketNews.lt/D.Lukšta
Šarūnas Jasikevičius was one of the stars of the Euroleague who participated in the documentary short film Table Talk: Playing Overseas.
The film focuses on basketball players and coaches working abroad, to draw attention to the difficulties encountered.
In addition to Jasikevičius, Kyle Hines, Nick Calathes, Alex Abrines, Dimitris Itoudis, WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, and others shared their thoughts.
“For the first time, I left my country at the age of 17,” Jasikevičius said. – For a child to leave the Soviet Union for the United States was the same as changing from black to white. It was a demanding adaptation. “
“The first 3-4 months were a shock. Different culture, different food, customs, situations. Go to church with the family on Sundays, other situations. In a completely different language. Even then, he spoke English well, but he also had to deal with slang.
I also had to interact with local black players whose situations I did not understand at all at the time. I did not understand anything about their world growing up in an environment of violence, the racism they faced. Before coming to America, I didn’t know anything about racism. It was a really shocking start, ”added Jasikevičius.
As a coach, Shar admitted that he preferred the Legionnaires who had already played in Europe.
“It is very important for me as a coach not to have players in the team who come to Europe from the United States for the first time. I think they have a very big culture shock. We have had cases where, in the first year, these players they are just trying to understand and empathize with their skin.
Like I said, when I first came to the United States, I was also surprised, so naturally the same is true for Americans who come to Europe. Then you try to help them understand what is happening in Europe and how. It’s not easy, but most true professionals adapt, “said Jasikevičius.
At the time, Milan’s Armani Exchange forward Kyle Hines said that sometimes you just need to step out of your comfort zone.
“Of course, you are not at home and there is no usual environment for you, but sometimes to grow as a person you have to step out of your comfort zone,” Hines said. “I think the main reason I was successful in basketball is because I adapted to the culture and was able to learn a lot.”
“No matter what city or country I played in, I had the opportunity to learn a lot,” Hines added.
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